1001 Stories

Nizwa – Bahla – Jabreen – Tanuf

Depart from your hotel and take the highway to the country’s former capital, Nizwa. This city is a symbol of the ancient power struggle between Muscat and the country’s interior.

NIZWA

Nizwa’s souk was the largest in the Arabian Peninsula until 1980. On Fridays, the cattle market attracts Bedouins and trade is lively.

Visit the fort, built in the 17th Century to defend against the Portuguese. This is Oman’s most impressive fort.

Nizwa Fort

BAHLA

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Stop for a photo in front of the Bahla Fort, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and made of adobe with stone foundations.

Bahla Fort

JABREEN

Continue towards Jabreen Castle, built in 1675. At the time, more than 300 people lived in the castle, which was the residence of the Imam Bil Arab Bin Sultan. The castle has been renovated and is noted for its magnificent painted ceilings, its walls covered with arabesques, and its carved stucco and woodwork. This is one of the most beautiful examples of Omani architecture.

Jabreen Castle

TANUF

Pass through the abandoned village of Tanuf, which was bombed by the English Army on the orders of Sultan Taymur, the father of Sultan Qaboos.